COULD the US really be about to repeal legislation requiring double-skinned tankers? The world was dragged down the double-hull route by the OPA90, the US Oil Pollution Act introduced following the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989. 22 years on and with the global fleet now all double-hulled, US legislators are reviewing whether it was a good idea after all.

Why? Events dear boy. Events. Or perhaps… Trends dear boy. Trends. You see, we’re worried about other things nowadays. Double hulls equal more steel, which equals more fuel and more emissions. What’s worse? The risk of more oil pollution or the guarantee or more emissions?